StreetCred.com - Hip Hop Gets Socialized

StreetCred is a new hip-hop centered social network which already has been endorsed by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Common, and T.I. Partnerships with Warner Music and Sony are in the works to provide the network with music videos and interviews. Aside from the big names, StreetCred looks pretty much like your standard network with a distinct hip hop twist, of course. Profiles have been reincarnated as Blocks, and friends become part of a Squad. Squad members can in turn choose to create a new Street or select an existing Street to become a part of. Being part of a Street gives you access to all the site's media along with commenting and discussion. Comments are received on a Brick rather than the familiar wall, and users can build their Cred by participating and rating.

"StreetCred.com, the social media channel, is built around a distinctive set of characteristics within the Hip-Hop culture. The community becomes the first convergence of proprietary technologies that, when integrated, create a powerful and scalable medium for the Hip-Hop culture to coalesce, communicate and engage. In support of the free flow and sharing of ideas and expressions, our custom technologies for social and business networking, mobile casting, photo, music and video publishing and sharing empower you to express what you want, when you want and how you want."

The site has that professionally designed slick aesthetic which is popular with the urban set. Although it hasn't got anything truly stunning or different, the site does have some big names behind it. Moreover, it does a good job of developing a hip-hop oriented community with quality content.

Is StreetCred too mainstream for the tastes of some hip-hop fans? Will it end up being too commercial? Is the site less Street than it would like to think it is?